The first task was drawing near, and finally, Dudley was getting the hang of the confundus charm. "Excellent, Dudley," Lockhart said. "With any luck, you'll be able to answer the Sphinx's riddle and won't have to fight it."
"Fat chance," Dudley said.
"Come now, you never know," Lockhart said.
Dudley gave a shrug. He felt the only way he'd be able to answer the Sphinx's riddle would be if it was Vernon's old "What gets wetter the more it dries?" one. Still, he felt confident with the spells he had in his repertoire. He had always been quite good at offensive magic. Stupefy, impedimenta, incarcerous, obliviate and confundus should be enough to get him out of any jam.
The Saturday before the third task was a Hogsmeade weekend. Dudley, Ron and Dean decided to head down to the village. Hermione, however, stayed behind with Neville—"We really need to work on a few more hexes and jinxes." She said.
So, Dudley, Ron and Dean headed to the village together. They stocked up on snacks at Honeydukes, visited Zonko's and then headed to the Three Broomsticks for a Butterbeer.
"Oh great," Ron muttered. Lockhart was there, wearing robes of red with a matching beret.
"Dudley and friends, join us! I was just telling Madame Rosmerta about how I caught Nott last year—you've heard the story before, of course, but I'm sure you'll like to hear it again," he greeted, waving a hand which was holding some pink drink inside.
"Let's not stay long," Ron muttered as they joined Lockhart's table. Madame Rosmerta went to get them Butterbeers before Lockhart continued his story.
"… as I was saying, it was just me and Nott, face-to-face. Now, he was one of You-Know-Who's main lieutenants …"
Ron sighed. "At least he buys us drinks, I suppose," he muttered.
They stayed with Lockhart for about half an hour before Ron said they had to go and study.
"Oh, alright," Lockhart said, looking a bit disappointed. "I'll see you Monday, Dudley—I have a new spell we should practice."
Dean hesitated and turned back around. "Professor, can you cast a Patronus?"
"A patronus?" Lockhart repeated. "Highly-complex charm. Used to ward of Dementors and Lethifolds, why do you ask, Dean?"
"Since last year, I've wanted to learn to cast one—I was hoping Moody would show us, but he seems to be focusing more of dark magic and curses," Dean said.
"I'd like to learn too, Professor," Ron said, surprising Dudley.
"What?" he said, noticing Dudley's puzzled look. "I hate Dementors—if lock … if Professor Lockhart knows how to fight them, I'd want to know how."
"Well …" Lockhart said. "I am really meant to be mentoring Dudley, you know, getting him ready for the Triwizard Tournament …"
"Maybe a Dementor could be a future task?" Dudley suggested. "Professor, I'd like to know too—if you can show us."
"I … oh, very well," Lockhart said. He furrowed his brows, looking thoughtful. If Dudley could read minds he would have been able to see that Lockhart was coming to an important decision—whether to be truthful or continue his façade of claiming to know everything about everything and blustering his way through life. For once, he decided to be honest about his skills.
"I have never had much use for the patronus," Lockhart said, finally. "So I can only cast a non-corporeal one …"
"A what?" Dean asked.
"Non-corporeal," Lockhart said. "Without form. But I know the theory better than anyone—I suppose Monday's class, we can run through it together."
"Does ever a non-corporeal help?" Dean asked. "Against Dementors?"
Lockhart nodded. "A true patronus can charge down and drive off a Dementor, but even a non-corporeal can keep them away from you—buy yourself time to escape. But, we'll go through all that on Monday."